Magnetic separator.



No. 708,!86. Patented Sept. 2, I902.

J. P. WETHERILL.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

m-M I L j No. 708,!86. Patented Sept. 2, I902.

J. P. WE'THERI MAGNETIC SEPABA (Application ed Au 26 1 fil g 901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED "STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRICE WETHERILL, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAGNETIC SEPARAT OR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,186, dated September 2, 1902. Application filed August 26, 1901.- Serial no. rates. (No model.)

T0 (ZZZ whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN PRICE WETH-. ERILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Magnetic Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed of even date herewith, SerialNo.73,297,I have described and claimed, broadly, an apparatus for effecting the magnetic separation of fines and other ore mixtures containing magnetic and relatively nonmagnetic or diamagnetic material by the expedient of feeding the material to be separated into the interpolar space or gap formed between two'magnet-poles, washing out by the aid of water-jets the non-attracted material and removing and separately collecting. the material magnetically detained in the in terpolar space by means of scraper-blades. My present invention consists in another form of apparatusoperating upon the same general principle, but of different specific construction. In still another application, also filed of even date herewith; Serial No. 73,299, I have described and claimed another form of apparatus, likewise embodying the same general principle, but of different specific construction. V

In the accompanying drawings,;Figure 1 represents a vertical section of an apparatus embodying the invention, the magnet-coil and the parts immediately adjacent thereto being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 represents a top-plan view with the main body portion of the upper magnet-pole removed. Figs. 3 and 4 represent details.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a vat or tank adapted to contain a body of water designed normally to rise to about the level indicated in Fig. 1. Within the vat or tank A extend the'polar projections of an electromagnet, the coil B of the electromagnet being exterior-thereto, so as to be out of contact with the water. For convenience of bolts a.

construction the core C of the electromagnet ismade separate from the pole-pieces, but is united thereto by means of the connecting- The polar projections may convenientlybe made of hollow tubing, as shown,

'flattened along the horizontal portions D D level in the tank.

. Both the upper and the lower tubular polepieces E E are cut away at diametrically opposite points, and the magnetic metal thus [removed is replaced by like sections 1) b, of

brass or other non-magnetic material, of the general form' ofatriangular prism,the broader bases of the prisms facing each other, as

shown. .The general effect of thisexpedient. :is to practically interrupt the flow of magnetism across the space occupied by the sec- '-I tions I) Z) and to concentrate the lines of force across the gap separating the intervening sections of magnetic material. This concentration of the lines of force is further increased by giving to the ends of the pole-pieces a pointed or wedge-shaped configuratiomso that a magnetic field of a high degree of concentration is formed between each pair of the opposing magnetic sections. Into the magnetic fields of force thus formed I feed the material to be separated. This may conveniently be done by" means. of hoppers G, exterior to the'interpolar spaces, said hoppers being provided with the usual feed-rollers c, operated in any suitable manneras, for instance, by the bevel-gears II-and the material may bedistributed with a considerable degree ofuniformity to the interpolar spaces by means of corrugated or fluted feed chutes or apronsfli Within the interior of the polar extensions E E is located an upright shaft, whose lower portion F is stepped within a suitable bearing g and whose upper portionJ is hollow and bears the driving-pulley K. The hollow IOO outward through the interpolar space or gap. The pipe L, preferably of brass, is furthermore provided with a series of brass scraperbladcs m of a general configuration conforming to the shape of pointed or wedge-shaped ends of the polar projections, as shown.

Exterior to and opposite each of the nonmagnetic sections of the polar projections are the receiving-hoppers M, into which the scraping-blades convey the major portion of the magnetic particles separated. Such other portions of the magnetic particles as creep within the hollow magnet are received in an inner hopper N, and the main body portion of the tailings or non-attracted particles are received in the lower hopper P. All of these hoppers are provided with discharge-gates at their lower ends, as shown.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Magnetic fields of suitable concentration being established across the interpolar spaces or gaps, the material to be separated is fed at a predetermined rate from the hoppers G, by means of the feed-rollers c and fluted apronsf, into said interpolar spaces. At the same time water is admitted into the hollow portion J of the shaft and is directed in the form of a series of jets outwardly through the interpolar spaces, and at the same time the shaft is set in rotation. The magnetic particles of the material to be separated are attracted by the magnet-poels and are detained thereat, whereas the non-attracted portions mechanically entangled with them are washed out by the impact, and dissolving. action of the water-jets directed through the mass and falling through the water in the vat are received in the hopper I. As the shaft revolves the scraper-blades m convey the attracted and detained magnetic particles or heads toward the non-magnetic sections 1) b of the polar projections, and as the magnetic particles enter the space between opposite sections b b they leave the magnetic field of force and being no longer detained by magnetic attraction fall in to the hoppers M N, arranged for their reception. It will of course be understood that the operation is a continuous one, progressing uniformly as long as material is fed from the hoppers G while the central shaft is rotated.

My invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of fines, which are difficult of separation by ordinary forms of apparatus. It is not, however, restricted to this use, but may be employed for the separation of material of any suitable size or mesh.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositely-disposed hollow inagnet-poles,separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, means for feedinginto said gap the material to be separated, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in said gap, and ascraper for removin g the attracted particles beyond the detaining influence of the magnetic field; substantially as described.

2. A magnetic separator, comprisingoppositely-disposed hollow magnetpoles,separated from each other by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force said poles having alternate magnetic and non-magnetic zones or sections along their peripheries, means for feeding into theinterpolar space or gap the material to be separated, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in the gap, and a scraper operating in the gap for removing the attracted particles from the magneticto the non-magnetic sections of the pole-pieces and releasing them thereat; substantially as described.

3. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositely-disposed hollow magnet-poles,separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, said poles having a1- ternate magnetic and non-magnetic zones or sections along their peripheries, feeding-hoppers for supplying the material to be separated to the magnetic portions of the gap be tween the magnetic zones or sections, a waterjet pipe having its jet-apertures directed through the gap, and aseries of scraper-blades operating within the gap; substantiallyas described.

4. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositely-disposedhollowmagnet-poles,separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, said poles having alternate magnetic and non-magnetic zones or sections along their peripheries, the non-magnetic zones or sections being of approximately the form of triangular prisms so as to concentrate the lines of force through the magnetic zones or sections, means for feeding the material to be separated to the magnetic portions of the gap, means for washing out the non-attracted particles from the particles detained by magnetic attraction in the gap, and a scraper operating in the gap for removing the attracted particles from the magnetic to the non-magnetic sections of the polo-pieces and releasing them thereat, substantially as described.

5. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositely disposed hollow magnet poles, separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, said poles having alternate magnetic and non-magnetic zones or sections, hoppers for feeding the material to be separated into the magnetic portions of the gap, a rotatory hollow shaft within the magnet-poles, an annular jet-pipe carried by said shaft and in communication with its hollow interior, and scraper-blades operating in the interpolar gap and mounted upon said annular pipe; substantially as described.

6. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositelydisposed hollow magnet poles, separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, said poles having alternate magnetic and nonmagnetic zones or sections, hoppers for feeding the material to be separated into the magnetic portions of the gap, a rotatory hollow shaft within the magnet-poles, an annular jet-pipe, carried by said shaft and in com munication with its hollow interior, scraper-blades operating in the interpolar gap and mounted upon said annular pipe, receiving-hoppers for heads arranged opposite the non-magnetic sections of the pole-pieces, and a separate receiving-hopper for tailings; substantially as described.

7. A magnetic separator, comprising oppositely disposed hollow magnet poles, separated by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force, said poles having alternate magnetic and non-magnetic zones or sections, hoppers for feeding the material to be separated into the magnetic portions of the gap, a rotatory hollow shaft within the magnet-poles an annular jet-pipe carried by said shaft and in communication with its hollow interior, scraper-blades operating in the interpolar gap and mounted upon said annular pipe, receiving-hoppers for heads arranged opposite and outside of the non-magnetic sections, an additional receiving-hopper for heads arranged within the lower magnetpole, and a separate receiving-hopper for tailings; substantially as described. 7

8. A magnetic separator, provided with an electromagnet having a flattened core and flattened lateral projections from said core, said flattened projections terminating in hollow tubular pole-pieces, separated from each other by an interpolar space or gap traversed by the magnetic lines of force; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PRICE WETHERILL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WETHERILL, J. STACY BROWN. 

